Title : Structural Tests of a Fiberglass-Reinforced Polyester Housing System and Its Components.

Descriptive Note : Final rept. Mar 72-Feb 73,

Corporate Author : CIVIL ENGINEERING LAB (NAVY) PORT HUENEME CALIF

Personal Author(s) : Keenan,W. A.

Report Date : JUL 1975

Pagination or Media Count : 123

Abstract : A prototype fiberglass-reinforced polyester (FRP) housing system and certain of its components were load tested to evaluate their structural performance for compliance with HUD Guide Criteria developed for OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH. Serviceability and structural safety of a two-story test house were determined under nine combinations of horizontal and vertical dead, live, wind, and earthquake loads. In addition, typical roof and wall panels and sill joints were environmentally conditioned and loaded to failure to measure the effects of exposure to high temperatures and humidity on structural performance. The test house simulated the living/bedroom portion of a two-story townhouse, but lacked the stiffening effects from adjoining modules. It, thus, provided a conservative model to simulate structural response of the prototype system. The house was fabricated of FRP sandwich panels for exterior walls, interior partitions, roof ceilings, and conventional wood joist construction for floors. Construction details of the test house and wall, roof, and joint test specimens were representative of those used in the prototype housing system. The test house satisfied the HUD Guide Criteria recommendations under all combinations of loads except wind load. The modes of failure in the test house, wall and roof components, and sill joints demonstrated the need for stricter quality control in fabrication techniques, especially at adhesive joints. (Author)